Fluid transmission



vPatented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF 1 ce.

FLUID TRANSMISSION Joseph Jandaself., Highland Park, Mien., assigner to' Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, 1nd., a corporationof Delaware Application` October 13, 194:3,v Serial-No.; 506,024

y (c1. en -54 )'1 1'3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly to fluid transmissions wherein speed. controlled means are employed to Vary the power transmitting characteristics ofthe device.

An object of this invention resides in. the provision of auxiliary fluid. energizing and energy absorbing fluid. deecting. members having vanes of varying contour adapted to be positioned in the` power transmitting flu-id circuit to vary the power transmitting characteristics of the device in. accordance withv variations of speed oi" the rotatable members.

A turther object ofthe-invention is to provide a huid-transmission. having an. impeller andv a turbine cooperating to form a power transmitting duid circuit, wherein. an auxiliary impeller and anv auxiliary turbine having high and lowI speed rectifyi-ng vanes controlled by variationsY oi"I speed of the impeller andV turbinev are provided to vary the power transmitting characteristics` of the device.

Another object is to provide a.r uid transmis-- sion including a speedvv controlledV gui-de wheel having spaced channeledv portions adapted. to operate the device as a torque converter or as a iiuid clutch.

Yet another object of the invention: resides in. the provision ofv a. fluid transmission having. an. auxiliary impeller provided withv contoured vanes ofY varying curvature driven by a main impeller member and controlled by speed responsive means to vary the Huid energizing characteristics. of' the device.

Another obj'ectv resides in the provisionr ofal fluid. transmission having an auxiliary turbine provided withl vanes oi varying contour adapted to be positioned. in the power transmitting fluid? circuit to vary the: energy absorbing.A characteristics of the device in accordar'rce` with variations of speed of: a turbine member'.

Other objects and advantages of this' invention. will be apparent from the: following' detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, submitted for purposes of.' illustration oniy and not' intended to denne the scope of the invention, reference being had for' that purpose" to the subjioined claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews': y

Fig. I i'sv a longitudinal sectional View of atransmission embodying the present. invention.

Fig. 2 is a.. diagrammatic view illustrating. the blades ofthe guide wheel.. member.

2 'Fig 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2` illustrating the vanes of the auxiliary impeller.

Fig.- 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating. the. vanes ofV the auxiliary turbine vanes.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary sectional view ofA a modifiedV form of vanestructure having helic'ally shaped vanes employed iny the auxiliary guide wheel, impeller and turbine members.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the detailsY of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated. in the accompanyingr drawing, since the invention is capabie of other embodiments andofv being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is Vfor the purpose of description. and notr of' limitation.

Referring nowv more particularly to Fig. 1. itY will be observed that a driving shaft i0 has thereon a hub |2- supporting a-nange I4A carrying an impeller housing I6- having onits inner wall iiuid energizing vanes I8, 2-0` and' 22' supporting a shroud member 24.I This structure provides an impeller channel 26 between the housing 16T-.and the shroud 24 respectively.

The housing |'6 has an axially extended. flange 2'8 terminating in an inwardly directed flange 30. It will be apparent that the impeller housing It' and the flanged portions 28 and 3U' mayV be formed as separate elements if desired and attached together in any suitable Inanner as by means of. bolts. Y

A driven shaft 32` preferably aligned with the driving sha-ft I'J- has thereon a hub 3.4V secured against displacement as by a key 36?. The hub 34 has a turbine web 38 carrying suitable energy absorbing vanes 40,42 and 46 securedto a shroudv member 48'. This structure provides a turbinev channel 50' between the web and shroud 38' and 48 respectively.

The impeller channel 263 andthe turbine channel. 50 cooperate to provide a power transmitting huid circuit whereby fiuid may loe` energized in the impeller channel andthe energy absorbed from the circulating fluid inthe turbine channel: totransmit power from the driving shaft. Hl to the driven shaft 321.

A stationary member 52 receiving the driven shaft' 32 has helical threads 54 for the reception of a guide wheel hub 56 having internal helical threads' 58 meshing withthe threads 54 so that the guide wheel may shift' axially on the stationary member between spaced stopmembers 60- and 62. The guide wheel hub 56" has a ange 64 supporting a guide wheel @il having spaced channels 58 and 'lil adapted to be introduced into the power transmitting fluid circuit.

The channel 'It is provided wi-th vanes 'l2 of relatively large cross section embodying considerable curvature .as illustrated in Fig. 2 to deflect the fluid issuing from the turbine .channel 5i! and rectify its direction of ilow to operate the device as a torque converter so as to transmit multiplied torque at reduced speed.

The 4channel 63 is provided with vanes 'F4 of a smaller cross section embodying less curvature to decrease the deflection of the fluid to operate the device as a fluid clutch to transmit power at higher speed with substantially no torque multiplication.

Preferably interposed between the guide wheel E6 and the main impeller channel 2B is an auxiliary impeller 16 carried by a ilange 'it supported concentrically with relation to the stationary member 52. The auxiliary impeller member 'i6 is provided with spaced channels 80 and S2 [to vary the energizing characteristics of the device.

The channel 82 is adapted to be introduced in the power transmitting uid circuit when the device is operating at relatively slow speed as a ltorque converter to transmit multiplied torque. This channel 82 is provided with fluid deflecting varies 860i relatively large cross-section embodying considerable curvature as illustrated in Fig. 3. These vanes 86 lact as low speed rectifying vanes to deflect the fluid, imparting a desired amount of energy thereto and inducing it to enter the main impeller channel 2S at such lan angle that turbulence is minimized.

The channel Sil is provided with high speed rectifying vanes 84 as illustrated in Fig. 3 of smaller cross-section to deflect the power transmitting fluid to minimize turbulence and impart a desired degree of power thereto when the device is operating as a fluid clutch with the channeled portions E8 of the guide wheel member Y(it in the power transmitting fluid circuit.

Driving means are provided between the main impeller and 4the `auxiliary impeller member 16. This driving means may be of any desired form such for example as spaced pins 88 carried by the flange of the impeller housing I5 and extended through spaced apertures 90 in the flange 18 of the auxiliary impeller member 'l5 in such a manner as to drive the auxiliary impeller carrying flange 18; It will be noted that this driving connection permits the flange 18' to move axially relative to the driven shaft 32 and the stationary member 52 to successively introduce the channels 8i) and 82 in the power transmitting fluid circuit.

Speed responsive means may be provided to control the position of the auxiliary impeller member 16 relative to the fluid circuit. One desirable form of a suitable speed responsive means comprises a bell-crank S2 pivoted at S4 on an arm 95 carried by the impeller housing I6 and having an actuating projection 98 extending into a slot |00 formed inthe auxiliary impeller member i6. The opposite ends of the bell-crank 92 is provided with a weight |92 adapted to swing outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force caused by rotation of the impeller housing I6 to actuate the auxiliary impeller member 16 against the resistance of a spring |04 so as to introduce .the channel 86 into the power transmitting fluid circuit when the device is operating as a fluid clutch.

Means may be provided to control the guide 4 wheel in accordance with the position of the auxiliary impeller 'i6 to provide speed control means for the guide wheel. One desirable form of such control means comprises an extension |65 on the auxiliary impeller supporting a flange 'F8 having a rounded edge lili] received by a slot H0 in the guide wheel hub `5 6 to insure movement of the guide wheel. 66 with the auxiliary impeller '15.

It will be apparent that the angle of the helical threads 54 and 58 may be varied .to obtain the desired operating characteristics. If desired the helical threads 515 and 58 on the stationary member 52 and the guide wheel hub 56 may be dispensed with, and the hub merely slide axially on the stationary member.

The turbine hub S4 has an axially extended portion VI |2 externally splined as at lill for the reception of an internally splined radially extended flange ||5 carrying an auxiliary turbine H8. The turbine H8 has spaced channels |25) and |22 adapted to be successively introduced in .the power transmitting fluid circuit when the device is operating as a torque converter or as a fluid clutch.

Speed responsive actuating means may be provided Vto control the auxiliary turbine H3 relative to the power transmitting fluid circuit. One desirable form of such control means comprises a bell-crank IZA pivoted Vat 26 on the turbine web 38. One end of the bell-crank |24 is connected through a link |28 to the flange IIS to move it on the splines H4 of the axially hub'extension portion H2. The other end of the bellcrank |24 is provided with .a weight |30 adapted to swing outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force to shift the auxiliary turbine toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 to introduce the channel |22 into the fluid circuit during high speed operation when the device is operating as a fluid clutch. A spring 32 interposed between the flange I6 and a stop member |34 is provided to yieldingly urge the auxiliary turbine i I8 to introduce the channeled portion |20 in the fluid circuit to operate the device as a torque converter.

The channel |29 of the auxiliary turbine H8 is provided with low speed rectifying vanes |35 of relatively large cross section embodying considerable curvature to absorb a relatively high proportion of power from the circulating fluid when the device is operating as a torque converter and to deflect the fluid in such a manner as to minimize iluid turbulence as it enters the main turbine.

The channel |22 is'provided with high speed rectifying vanes |38 of smaller cross section embodying less curvature to absorb a lesser degree of power from the power transmitting fluid when the device is operating as a fluid clutch to transmit power with substantially no torque multiplication.

The left side of the turbine web 33 is provided with spaced calibrated oriilces |60 to permit the flow of a predetermined quantity of fluid therethrough. The auxiliary turbine carrying flange |56 is also provided with spaced orifices |42 to permit predetermined quantities of fluid to flow therethrough to subject the flange 'l i6 to predetermined pressure urging it toward the right as Viewed in Fig. l to introduce the channel |20 into the power transmitting fluid circuit when the device is operating as a fluid clutch.y

The right side of the turbine web' isal'so provided with calibrated orificesv |43 to permit a predetermined quantity of fluid to flow therealcance v5 through to exert force on the inner surface of the guide wheel carrying' flange 64. The flange Y64 4 and ,the auxiliary impeller carrying l flange 'I8= are provided with calibrated orifices IM and M6- to subjectJ these flanges to substantially predetermined fluid.- pressures urging them toward -the high speed low load torque-converter position of operation.

The operation is as follows: Power applied to the driving shaft I rotates the impeller housing I6 to energize fluid and moveit in the direction of' the arrowlii. Energy imparted to the fluid is absorbed by the vanes i6-,- 4&2v and #6' carried by theturbin-e web 38, andy this powerv is transmitted through thetm-bine hub 34' to theV driven shaft 3'2.

When power is being transmitted at low speed as when torque multiplication isv desiredY toY transmit increased torque at reduced speed, the spring |64 urges thebell-crank 92' in a counterclock-wise direction about its pivot 5354 to introduce the-channel 'I0 of the guide wheel 6, and the channel" 62` ofthe auxiliary impeller T6 into the power transmitting iluid circuit'.

The guide Wheel vanes 'l2 (Fig. 2) of large curvature deilect the fluid in such a manner that torque may be multiplied to operate thel device as a torque converter to transmit increased torque to the driven shaft 32 at reduced speed. The low` speed rectifying vanes 86 (Fig. 3) of the auxillary impeller i6 impart energy tov the fluid issuing fromthe guide wheel channel 'lil and direct it tothe main impeller channel 26 at a desired angle to minimize fluid turbulence. During this phase of the operation the channel F29` of the auxiliary turbine IIS isV in the power'transmitting fluid circuit whereupon the vanes i361 (Fig. 4) of' large curvature are effective to absorb a relatively high proportion of power from the power transmitting fluid before it flows into the main turbine channel 5D where the' remaining extractible portion of the power is absorbed from the uid.

As the load. on the turbine shaft 32' decreases,

or` the power applied tothe driving shaft Hl increases to such a point that' torque multiplication is no longer. necessary', the impeller'v and turbine' speed up. The Weight |02' on the bell-crank 92' moves the bell-crank 92 in the clockwise direction thereby shifting the channel 68 of the guide Wheel 66 and the channel 86 ofthe auxiliary impeller into the power transmitting iluid circuit.

The vanes T4 (Fig. 2) in the guide wheel channel 68 exert decreased deflection on the power transmitting. fluid and direct it to the auxiliary impeller channel 86' in such a manner that the device operates as a fluid clutch to transmit power from the driving shaft Iii to the driven shaft 32. with substantially no torque multiplication.

The vanes 84 (Fig. 3) in the channel 80 of the auxiliary impeller 16 exert less deflecting force on the iluid and therefore impart thereto a lesser degree of energy.

It will be noted that the guide Wheel B6 is moved axially relativeto the fluid circuit by the actuating portion I U8 of the ilange |06 carried by the auxiliary impeller flange 18. Since the auxiliary impeller I6 is controlled by speed responsive means, the position of the guide wheel member B5 is also controlledby speed responsive means.

The driving pins 88 carried by the flange 36 of the impeller housing I6 engaging in the apertures 90 of the auxiliary impeller carrying flange I8 serve to rotate the auxiliary impeller 'I6 with the impeller housing I6 and-driving shaft I 0.

As the device speeds up due to a reduction of Cil the; load onthef driven: shaft 3.2, or to an increase in the power `applied tothe driving shaft I 0,. the weight |2301 oscillates. 'the bell-crank I24 carried by the turbine web 38 in the clockwise direction to shift the. auxiliary turbine IIS. toward vthe left as viewedi in Figfl to introduce the channel I22 having the fluiddeeoting vanes 138.? (Fig. 4) of thu-mery cross section and less curvature into the power transmitting Vfluidi circuit whereupon decreased power is absorbed-fromy the fluid by the auxiliary turbine member while the device is operating asa fluid clutch.

In the embodimentof the invention illustrated in Fig. 5- the guide wheel 66- is provided with fluid deflecti'n'g vanes Ill of hel-ical form. The left hand end of the vanes IE6-are of relativelylarge cross section and embody considerable curvature as illustrated at 'I2 in Fig. 2` for operating the' device as a torque converter. The cross section of the vanes |60 and their angle of curvature progressively decrease toward the righ-t and at the right hand portion embody a crossv section and curvature as illustrated at T4 in Fig. 2 for operating the device as a fluid clutch.

The auxiliary impellerV I6 is provided with helically 'shaped vanes |62 having large cross sectional area and large curvature at the left end portion as illustrated at 66 in Fig'. 3. The cross section and curvature of the auxiliary impeller vanes progressively changes to the right as viewed' in Fig.v` 1 and at Ythe right hand end embodies crossv section and curvature asA illustrated at 8c of Fig. 3`.

The auxiliary turbine II I8 is provided with vanes It of helical form having cross section and curvature at the leftA as illustrated at F36 in Fig. 4 and decreases in cross section and curvature to lthe right as illustrated at |38 of Fig. 4. Where thel helically shaped vanes are employed on the guide wheel, auxiliary impeller and turbine, more accurate control of lthe power transmitting characteristics is'possible.

This application is in part a continuation of my copending applications, Serial No. 366,686, filed November 22', 1940, now abandoned, which is itself va continuation of' my Patent No. 2,222,618, and Serial No. 358,960, filed September 30', 1940.

Iclaim:

1. A fluid transmission comprising an impeller, a turbine cooperating with the ,impeller to form a fluid circuit, an auxiliary impeller and a guide wheel interconnected therewith each including a plurality of spaced channels having rectifying vanes adapted to be alternately introduced. in the fluid circuit, and speed responsive means controlling the auxiliary impeller to position one of said spaced channels in the fluid circuit'.

2. A iluid transmission comprising an impeller,V a turbine cooperating with the impeller to form a fluid circuit, an auxiliary' impeller, an auxiliary turbine, and a guide wheel each having a plurality of spaced channels with rectifying vanes therein adapted to be alternately introduced in the fluid circuit, and speed responsive means for control of the auxiliary impeller, the auxiliary turbine and the guide wheel.

3. A fluid transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an impeller and a turbine associated with the driving and driven shafts and cooperating to form a fluid circuit, an auxiliary impeller movable in the fluid circuit, a stationary member, a guide wheel on the stationary member interconnected with the auxiliary impeller and movable in the fluid circuit, and speed responsive means controlled :by the speed of rotation of the impeller to move the auxiliary impeller and the guide wheel in the uid circuit to operate the device as a torque converter or as a turbo clutch.

4. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, an impeller and a turbine associated with the driving and driven shafts and cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, a stationary member, a guide wheel shiftable on the stationary member having a plurality of spaced uid channels adapted to be alternately introduced in the fluid circuit to vary the power transmitting characteristics Vof the device, and means for automatically shifting theguide wheel under the influence of the fluid in the circuit and the speed of rotation of the impeller.'

5. A fluid transmission comprising an impeller, a turbine cooperating with the impeller to form a fluid circuit, a stationary member, a guide Wheel having a plurality of spaced channels adapted to be successively introduced in the fluid circuit, motion transmitting means between the guide Wheel and the stationary member, and means controlled jointly by the speed of the impeller and the fluid reaction in the fluid circuit controlling movement of the guide wheel by the motion transmitting means.

6. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, an impeller and a turbine associated with the driving and driven shafts and cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, a shiftable auxiliary impeller connected to the driving shaft, a shiftable auxiliary turbine connected to thedriven shaft, and speed responsive means under the influence of the speeds of rotation of the driving and driven shafts operative to shift the auxiliary impeller and turbine axially with respect to the shafts.

7. A fluid transmission comprising an impeller, a turbine cooperating with the impeller to form a fluid circuit, an auxiliary impeller and a guide wheel interconnected with the auxiliary impeller each including a plurality of spaced channels having vanes therein adapted to be selectivelyV introduced in the iiuid circuit to vary the energy transmitting characteristics of the transmission, and speed responsive means under the influence of the speed of the driving shaft controlling the auxiliary impeller to selectively introduce the` spaced channels in the fluid circuit.

8. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels associated with the driving and driven shafts and cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, an auxiliary impeller operably connected to the driving shaft, an auxiliary turbine operably connected to the driven shaft, speed responsive means under the influence of the speeds of rotation of the driving and driven'shafts controlling the auxiliary impeller and turbine members respectively, a stationary member, a guide wheel member associated with the stationary member and movable relative to the fluid circuit to selectively operate the device as a torque converter or as a fluid clutch, and speed responsive means under the influence of the speed of rotation of the driving shaft to control said guide wheel member.

9. A fluid transmission comprising driving, driven and stationary members, an impeller, a turbine and a guide wheel carried by the driving, driven and stationary members and cooperating to Vform a power transmitting fluid circuit to transmit power as a torque converter or as a fluid clutch, an auxiliary impeller interconnected with the guide wheel, an auxiliary turbine, and speed responsive means controlling the auxiliary impeller, the guide wheel, and the auxiliary turbine.

10. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, an impeller and a turbine carried by the driving and driven shafts and cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, an auxiliary impeller having vanes of varying contour to vary the energy imparting characteristics of the impeller, driving means between the impeller and the auxiliary impeller, a guide wheel interconnected with the auxiliary impeller, and speed responsive means under the influence of the speed of the impeller controlling the position of the auxiliary impeller and the guide Wheel.

11. A fluid transmission comprising impeller and turbine members cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, a stationary member, a guide wheel shiftably mounted on the stationary member having fluid deflecting vanes of varying contour to operate the transmission as a torque converter or as a fluid clutch, an auxiliary impeller movable concomtantly with the guide wheel, and speed controlled means under the influence of the speed of the impeller controlling the guide Wheel and auxiliary impeller.

12. A fluid transmission comprising an impeller and a turbine cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, an auxiliary turbine, an auxiliary impeller, and a guide Wheel each having fluid deflecting vanes of varying contour and each shiftable in the fluid circuit, and speed responsive means controlling shifting movements of the auxiliary turbine, the auxiliary impeller and the guide wheel.

13. A fluid transmission comprising an impeller and a turbine cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, a guide wheel, an auxiliary impeller interconnected therewith, and an auxiliary turbine each having fluid deecting vanes of varying fluid deflecting characteristics shiftable in the nuid circuit to vary the power transmitting characteristics of the transmission, and means controlled by fluid reaction in the fluid circuit and centrifugal force for automatically shifting the guide wheel, the auxiliary impeller and the auxiliary turbine.

JOSEPH J ANDASEK. 

